The clues in the left-hand column can be matched with their crossword  answers in the right-hand column according to a certain pattern. The answers in the right-hand column are in random order. Can you determine the pattern and connect each clue to its corresponding answer?

1. Hassles in a bowling alley      RAG
2. Trains for a game                    PILOT
3. Taste of Mexico                      DUCKS
4. Nepal VIP                               INSTINCT
5. Roster in Utah                         INTRO
6. Time for a mechanic               EARLY LIGHT
7. Courses that get you down      TENOR
8. Reigns at the Met                    OAXACA
9. Manila survival gift                 SPARES         
10. Nailed - for short                   ALTA

Answers:

One of the words in each clue can be anagrammed into another word which will make the phrase correspond to one of the answers in the right-hand column

1. Hassles - SLASHES in a bowling alley - SPARES 
2. Trains - STRAINS for a game - EARLY LIGHT 
3. Taste - STATE of Mexico - OAXACA
4. Nepal - PLANE VIP - PILOT 
5. Roster - RESORT in Utah - ALTA
6. Time - ITEM for a mechanic - RAG
7. Courses - SOURCES that can get you down - DUCKS
8. Reigns - SINGER at the Met - TENOR
9. Manila - ANIMAL survival gift - INSTINCT
10. Nailed - LEAD-IN for short - INTRO 

Credit:
NY Times Crossword
September 15, 2016
Ian Livengood